CR Manual man gives 718 Cayman S PDK a weekend test.

[geoff lane]

987 / 981 / 718 everyone has an opinion and a slant towards one's preference, it will always be horses for courses, are we buying for road or track or both do we want S, GTS or R, manual or PDK, Buckets or Sports Seats and so it goes on.

They are all good cars and probably the usage and budget, that we the owners intend for the car prompts our decision.

I was a little uncertain when I changed from a GT3 to a Boxster GTS but I have to say I have been impressed and it serves my needs well, it is a weekend car, its fun for track days (not the fastest) revs well and on the road does everything you could want, its well equipped, a very nice car but I am the first to admit it will not suit everyone (manual, buckets,ceramics etc) so as long as we are happy with our purchase that is all that counts. I must admit to an extent my expectations from a car are similar to Mr D's but as can be seen from these posts there are a lot of different opinions which must be good !.

On a comparison with hatchbacks I have just bought myself a retirement present in a Mercedes A45 AMG as my daily, now that is a very different engineering masterpiece which I am sure would bring lots of opinions on a general pistonheads type forum.

As a PCGB member the main objective is to enjoy your Porsche !!

Geoff

 

[AndrewCS]

PART 3 - Cayman S

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-video/britains-best-drivers-cars-full-video-collection

 

[Brian_Innes]

I read the Autocar BBDC article in Autocar mag recently and noted that the 718 Cayman S manual came 6th in the overall lap timings on the Anglesey long circuit. The 718 CS Manual's lap time was 1min 41.2 seconds. Those of us who know the Anglesey track will acknowledge that this is a credible lap time, especially for a car shod with Pirelli P Zeros. Autocar made the comment that Michelin Cup 2's were worth about 1 to 2 seconds a lap at Anglesey. If you deduct that from the 718 CS lap time, plus deducting the fractions gained with the PDK gearbox option, the 718 Cayman S PDK on Cup 2's could, with a handy wheelsmith, dip below the 1min 40second lap time on the Anglesey long circuit.

GT4's had better watch out when the handy 718 drivers with the right rubber hit the technical driver's track days next year.

Brian

 

[MrDemon]

It's more about fun not lap times which was proven a few years back with that yellow 991gt3 pounding round, owner never bought that car again and runs his 981 manual Spyder on track days these days.

Torque wins races though have you seen the standard 911 turbo lap times these days, faster than all GT3 :-/

 

[Brian_Innes]

Absolutely Mr D.

Fun, is what Porsche Club track days are all about, not lap times. I was merely making the point that the 718 Cayman S, in the right hands, will provide spades of fun, together with enjoyment and satisfaction for those lucky owners who are brave enough to explore it's performance capabilities on the track.

Despite the disparaging and dismissive comments of some on the 718 Cayman, it will be enormously satisfying for the few 718 owners to fill the rear view mirrors of GT4's and most 911's, on track days, excluding the Turbo and Turbo S of course, which I can acknowledge from my own driving experience, are seriously quick track day cars.

I read elsewhere that Porsche are rumoured to be bringing forward the introduction of the GTS models of the 718 Boxster/Cayman range. 375bhp and 330 torques are mentioned as a starter. This constant quest for more power and torque will put the Porsche marketing suits in a bit of a dilemma, particularly in the case of the GT4 generation 2, as it will become ever closer in the power stakes to sharing the same hallowed ground as occupied by the current 911 GT models.

I only wish Porsche would recognise that the Cayman and 911 models are catering for a different enthusiast market. Not all Cayman owners aspire to owning a 911. They are very different beasts which appeal to equally different tastes.

Brian

 

[Fudgie]

Well, just handed back my weekend loaner, Boxster (non S) with PDK & 20" wheels but no Sports Chrono or PASM.

So my order form & opinion has changed... Loved the PDK and can only imagine how good it is with Sport Chrono added, therefore unbelievably I find myself unable to resist ticking those 2 boxes. My previous (admittedly 10+ years ago) experience of VAG's first generation DSG and it's limited short term appeal have been turned on it's head. The new PDK with perfect size & position paddles and correct motorsport stick push pull configuration resulted in me driving the whole weekend in manual mode, which felt natural & very enjoyable. Not once did I feel my concentration or standard of driving drop and on the lovely twisty Cotswold roads around where I live my driving pleasure was only enhanced through perfectly timed changes that without being a 'driving god' I would never be able to better in a manual.

The 20" wheels without PASM proved not so successful, so glad I tried this before spec lock down, I was amazed at the difference between this car and the 19" wheels on the Cayman I originally test drove. The 19" Cayman S wheels on passive dampers felt a nice balance so this box has also been ticked along with NAV instead of Connect, can't find any real info on how well Connect works and for another £600 think NAV option is safer, seemed a good system although I still got lost going through Cheltenham (as I always do, must be me but all the roads there look the same...).

So I now can't wait to get the car but I'm still worrying that it's going to take forever as no indication from my OPC on when they will get a build slot, highly unlikely to be before the road tax change in April :-(, still at least it give me time to decide on the colour, if only this could be decided by a test drive like the other options.

Really looking forward to your first report Brian

 

[Monkeynutz]

Interesting to read how it divides opinions. I am new to Porsche although a fan since childhood as many 47 year olds are. After 12 years or so of being a BMW owner my current PcP on my 420d was due to end and I was keen to upgrade to an M4 which was always something I wanted to do but funds never allowed before. The M4 just wasn't exciting me like it did before so I spent some time looking at reviews and youtube vids and discovered the new 718 Cayman..I could own a Porsche for less money!!...so off I went to the nearest OPC.

I loved the 718 CS and more so when I started to look at residuals and used values it made the BMW figures look poor by comparison. As a new entrant to the brand I was liking the sounds it made and that pick up and that power on tap at what seemed to be whenever it was wanted - Stunning!. I also went out in a 991.2 C4S @ £110k and although I did love it, a heck of a lot, it was merely a joyride in a car I would never own.

So Porsche got themselves a new customer but not for a new 718. At entry price the Cayman is a fantastic proposition but 10k+ of options without any real effort pushes the price to a point where it left me scratching my head. Furthermore, a 3 hour test in one confirmed a fear that at 6ft 3ins I might be struggling to be really comfortable on longer journeys. Porsche had sucked me in so now I started looking at used 991.1s and even the stretch of a 991.2 base but a reality check was needed before my Mrs kicked my ass. It came as a shock to me how these cars retain so much value especially in the short term. You can pick up an 18month old M4 for 20k less than the sticker price I couldn't find a Porker at 24 months old with a similar drop....much to my disappointment.

I still look at the Cayman and had I been a few inches shorter and not so cuddly I would have had the Cayman in a heartbeat and would not have looked at the 911s twice as I knew I couldn't afford it. I had dismissed the older models because the tech was so inferior to what I had been used to, that was until I was challenged to drive one at another OPC. I am now the proud owner of a 2010 997.2 C4S and take delivery in a few days even if I do wince a little when thinking about what I spent on 6 year old car! +1 for the Porsche Marketing Dept!!!

 

[geoff lane]

Well done I'm sure you will enjoy the ownership experience, you will have to post a few pictures when you get it in the 997 register section.

Welcome to PCGB.

Geoff

 

[Brian_Innes]

Welcome to Porsche precision driving Monkeynutz. You made the right decision in the end considering your lanky legs being cramped in the Cayman. I can perfectly understand your reasoning going for the 997.2 C4S.

Enjoy!

Fudgie, I knew you'd like the revised evo PDK. As a manual man I never thought I would say the PDK was better. This new one is, in spades. I have specced the 20" Carrera Sport alloys which are an extra half inch wider front and rear compared to the other 20" alloys. That's 8.5" wide fronts and 10.5" wide rears. Combined with the PTV and LSD my car should grip pretty well on the track days with the right rubber. I'll reserve my opinion on the ride quality with the adaptive -20 lowered PASM after I have done a few miles. I have a spare set of 19" Spyder alloys standing by if needed. You made a good choice going for the Sat Nav option. The Connect is not a viable alternative if you are in patchy cell phone reception zones. Also bear in mind the data roaming charges on your mobile tariff provider. I chose Sat Nav and the Connect Plus option so I can have fun with the the full Apple Car Play bonanza.

Regarding the build slots and delivery timescales for the 718 Cayman. I visited my OPC today to update on the handover date for my new 718 CS PDK, anticipated 18th December. I asked salesman about current new order timescales for the 718 Cayman and was told an order placed today would not be delivered until after April 2017, possibly even nearer early summer 2017. So be aware of the new VED tax regime, an extra £310 per year on top of the normal VED tax from April 1st 2017. Cars registered before this date are not affected. A substantial extra cost in store for prospective owners, and this particular shovel load of sh** has not hit the fan in the news media reports as yet. Those of us lucky enough to have our 718 orders delivered before April 1st, may benefit come future resale time when the 2nd owner will not be saddled with the new punitive road tax premiums. Who knows, it may even help the residuals of early 718's.

I'll post some pics of my new car when I get it. My final judgement on living with the 718 CS PDK, as in my particular spec, will come later..............

Brian

 

[Fudgie]

Hi Brian,

I'm glad my OPC have been so accommodating with the test drives and weekend loan, with such a wide variety of options I don't know how I would ever have be able finalise my spec, I'm on version 6 now... Agree with you on the Nav over Connect option as O2 signal around the Cotswold can be quite patchy plus data usage might prove to be a problem. Would like to also tick the PTV box but as it's only available with PASM, which combined proves quite expensive, and takes my spec up to nearly £56k, originally £50k was my budget...

The lead time is my only real frustration with this process so far, especially as I'm going to miss the April VED change and also to rub salt in the wound OPC had a Boxster Feb build slot available. However, factoring in the list price difference between a Cayman & a Boxster there is no tangible saving by swapping and having an early Boxster delivery. Plus definitely think the Cayman has the edge in driver terms and as this is my new 'one car does all' that has to live outside I'm not sure a soft-top is the best ideal.

Enjoy your early Christmas present

Jon

 

[Brian_Innes]

Thanks Jon, and Good Luck with your Cayman order and spec choices. It's very unfortunate for you about the April VED timing. It has not yet been made clear by DVLA which criteria they are using to determine the £40k threshold for the 5 year annual supplement of £310. Is it the basic list price of the car with or without VAT? Are added optional extras taken into account when determining the £40K cut-off point? We shall just have to wait and see how it all works out in practice. The devil will be in the detail no doubt.

On the options, it's very cynical money grabbing by Porsche to restrict the PTV and LSD option only to PASM. My CR had an LSD as a standard fitment and CR's did not have the PASM option available. Therefore it's not a technical requirement. It's those marketing people at it again.

With the power delivery characteristics of the 4 pot turbo, especially on wet, greasy roads, the PTV and LSD is far more than a luxury item. Exiting road junctions into traffic is an example where the LSD can aid traction, apart from the obvious grip and handling advantages on track days. IMO, the LSD should be a standard fitment on all two wheel drive Porsches. It's Porsche marketing department's way to ramp up the money and milk the customer for all they can get away with.

If it's any consolation, I also overstepped my original budget a wee bit when speccing my 718 CS PDK. It's part of the game no matter how prudent we start out. Once you get sucked into the online configurator and begin ticking those boxes, the ££££'s just fly. Especially when Porsche insist you can only have a certain option by also adding another expensive option! Little wonder that those marketing suits make a tonne of money for Porsche.

Brian